For both Paper 1 and Paper 2, there are 3 key areas that you need to cover to ensure that you get those marks.
1) A convincing story or argument.
For Paper 1, you have to write a story. For Paper 2, you have to write a persuasive argument. For both papers, Level 3 is 'clear and relevant' and Level 4 is 'convincing and compelling'. In order to be convincing your story/argument should be mature, realistic, honest and personal. In order to achieve this you should base it on personal experience to some level, whether that's your experience or someone you know. It's easier to be convincing if it actually happened.
For Creative Writing on both papers you should aim to see what you can take from the inserts to help you (the creative writing questions are very closely linked to the inserts for that specific reason) and you should make it personal. Forget about making it too complicated. Don't base it on computer games, T.V. shows, films, comics or books...make it about YOU.
2) A clear and coherent structure.
It's important, when you have a convincing idea (or ideas) of what you want to talk about in your Creative Writing that you also consider how you are going to order this information to engage your reader (the examiner).
For Paper 1 you can use the structural features you have found in the insert. You can use the ones you have talked about in Question 3 or 4. There will be ones you will use automatically: beginning, focus, perspective, topic shift...but try to get in some others too (but not too many that the story loses its clarity): zoom in/out, flashback, cyclical narrative, dialogue, juxtaposition, pathetic fallacy, etc...Show the examiner your learning. Do it with purpose and confidence. Remember that in Paper 1 it is not important to finish the story if time doesn't allow - we mark what we have on the page, not what's not on the page. So take your time and write well. It matters.
For Paper 2 you need to construct an argument that is persuasive and convincing for the examiner (this is covered in another blog post in full). Make sure that you take 1 point at a time, use persuasive language features to help guide you and tell it well. Try to use discourse markers (firstly, secondly, in conclusion, etc) to structure it clearly. Remember to include a counter-argument (however,). Repeat the question in the introduction and in the final paragraph for clarity. Use the correct layout: article, letter, speech, leaflet, essay. You want a structure that is as convincing as the argument it contains, so plan it first before you start writing.
A convincing argument and a well structured piece will cover 24 marks from your 40 for Creative Writing. You can't achieve this by rushing or making it up as you go along, so don't.
3) A crafted, well considered use of SPaG.
This is worth 16 marks to you, so think about your writing as you are writing. Take your time and write well. This isn't a 'write as much as you can in 35 minutes without stopping' exam. It's you showing the examiner your education and your level of literacy. Accurate spelling, complex vocabulary, paragraphing, vary your sentence lengths, vary punctuation. You will be judged on how well you show this to the examiner who will award you marks for how well you use your spelling, punctuation and grammar, so take your time and write with consideration. Quality counts, always.
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